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Community Spotlight: Explore Travisdaldy's Passion For Photography

ViewBug community member travisdaldy's love of photography has always been there but it has only been the last few years in which he has explored this passion. "A passion, which I believe is shown in the Images I capture. I have found the results in my work rewarding and even more so when shared with others." - Travis

This was one of the many photos I captured on a recent trip to the New Zealand South Island. A couple of mates and I hired a campervan and travelled around taking photos, driving in the day leaving the mornings and evenings free to utilize to great light.

This particular image was taken just as the sun crept over the horizon lighting up the Wanaka Tree brilliantly. I had my Canon 6D with the 24-105mm f/4, which I believe is a highly underrated lens. I was also using a Hoya ND400 ND filter so my kit was mounted on a Manfrotto Tripod. The focal length was 55mm, ISO 50 to stretch out the shutter, which was 25 seconds. F Stop was at f/14. Sitting in the middle I find gives much sharper photos.

Below is a list of my top 7 Travel Photo Tips:

1. Do your research – Look online, at maps, read blogs any info you can get before you get there will help. Having said that don’t be scared to go off plan if something interesting comes along.

2. Talk to locals – No one else will have as much knowledge as them and who knows, you might just get invited to something rarely seen by most.

3. Get up early – Not only do you get beautiful light, you get to see the sights without the tourists and sometimes get to see things that most don’t.

4. Vary the shots – Yes the postcard landscapes can be amazing but there is more to a destination. Capture the people, the details, the atmosphere. Share the experience, not just the image.

5. Look with your eyes, not the Lens – this may even mean leaving the camera home, especially on the first day. It can be tempting to hit the ground running but more often than not you will look back on the photos and think “why did I take that?”

6. Don’t Rush – Take your time and make sure you are happy with your work. This could be the only time you get to visit these places. Some great shots of a few locations is better than ‘so so’ shots of every location. Also, don’t be afraid to go back to a location if you are there at the wrong time of day.

7. Know your gear – There is nothing more heart breaking than getting back from a trip to find the shots are blurry, over exposed, etc.